Chorus Retreat a Smashing Success!

Emily Crowe, Abbie Reifel, (top) Melanie Brintnall, Heidi Nelson, Jessica Payne, Maggie Uhen

On September 29th the Concert and Touring choruses boarded the buses and took off for Camp Reynoldswood in Dixon, Illinois, for a glorious weekend of music making and fun. Two hours later everyone tumbled off the buses and quickly deposited their backpacks and sleeping bags in their assigned rooms, before making their way to rehearsals. Emily Ellsworth, Artistic Director, worked with the Touring group (with Bill Buhr managing to make magic even on our electronic keyboard) and Dottie Williames, our wonderful Treble conductor, worked with the Concert group. After rehearsal what else does one do but build a campfire and make s'mores! Chaperones and staff were treated to spontaneous song while the choristers ate, bonded and had a generally good time.

In the morning the Treble chorus arrived to add to the merriment. Megan Marshall, interim Concert conductor, also joined the group and a combination of games, rehearsals and (lots of) eating and laughing continued throughout the day. Weather had been a concern early on, but it cooperated in the end and the combination of beautiful sunshine, comaraderie and wonderful music made it hard to end the day. Eventually it was time to go and some very weary choristers made their way home. Fortunately, the chaperones and staff were busy with their cameras so there are many memories to share until next year.  

As glorious as it is to make music at a high level with motivated young people, I am more and more struck by all the "extra bonuses" that come with this work.  I keep running into written and aural examples of other people's musings which add to my own on the many benefits of choral singing.  For example, I've been reading a book called The Perfect Blend, recently written by Timothy Seelig, conductor of the Turtle Creek Chorale in Dallas, Texas. In it he states, "There is no activity people can engage in that meets as many basic human needs as being in a choir."  That's a strong statement!  But consider his criteria.  Seelig cites a theory of the needs hierarchy of humans developed by humanist psychologist Abraham Maslow:

1.  Biological (food, water, oxygen, etc.)
2.  Safety (a rehearsal can be a place of safety and trust)
3.  Attachment (singer to singer, conductor, audience....)
4.  Esteem (pride in accomplishment)
5.  Cognitive (music making works both sides of the brain in impressive ways)
6.  Aesthetic (art lifts us to a higher level)
7.  Self-actualization (getting in touch with inner self)
8.  Spiritual (sharing and giving of self)

Amazingly enough, 7 of the 8 basic needs of humans can be covered by singing in a chorus.  Throw in a pizza party after rehearsal, and you've got all 8!
Of course, none of this is automatic.  It takes a lot of careful thought and hard work by all participants. But what an opportunity we have at each and every rehearsal to connect, achieve, be challenged, inspired, and perhaps, even, to heal.

Happy Fall.

Join us for a fantastic holiday concert Patapan! featuring steel drums of the Caribbean, World Percussion, 175 young voices singing music from North America, South America and Europe. With Guest artists Glenn McClure and Brent Roman. The program will close with the Midwest premiere of excerpts from Glenn McClure's Caribbean Christmas Mass.